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Norwegian Gem Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Reviews: 2
Helpful Votes: 17

Overall rating:

2 out of 5
Verified Review
Norwegian Gem

9 Night Eastern Caribbean (New York Roundtrip)

Sail date: November 25, 2013

Ship: Norwegian Gem

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 11028

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 10 years ago

Review summary

We were off to a bad start when the ship docked late and embarcation turned into a zoo!

The food was below expectation and when we said so to a senior member of the crew, we were asked if this was our first cruise and when told that it was out fourth, the reply was that we needed to "adjust our expectations".

Free style cruising is not for us: since the $12 a day per person was automatically added to the bill, our cabin staff did the minimum (one set of towels a day). The restaurant staff were barely adequate, there was no reason to "serve" since the incentive of end of cruise tip was not there.

The 2 1/2 days getting to warm weather and 2/1/2 days getting back are a waste of time... Better to take a flight to FL or PR and start there. Nothing to see in Samana DR unless you like seeing what abject poverty looks like.

 

This is the last time I go on NCL.

 

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Children's Programs

NA

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Ports of call

New York, New York

1 out of 5
A zoo, probably because the ship arrived late...

San Juan, Puerto Rico

3 out of 5

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

5 out of 5

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

5 out of 5

Samana, Dominican Republic

1 out of 5
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1 Comment

robin2p    10 years ago

I wish more people were aware of a little known secret about the service charge. As long as you don't prepay it, "you can have the service charge adjusted on board." If it has been prepaid, you can file a complaint, but the form must be filled out while on the ship and mailed in afterwards. Not everyone is included in the charge either, so my husband and I always tip our butler and concierge when we board and they have gone out of their way to make sure we are happy.

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